Third party absence from Bangladesh-Myanmar pact is worrisome: Analyst

An international analyst has expressed concern on the repatriation process of the Rohingya refugees saying that the absence of an international body to monitor the implementation is worrisome.

Prof. Ali Riaz of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University in United States emphasised that there are many hurdles to get over before the repatriation starts.

"I'm afraid that within the period stipulated in the signed instrument Myanmar may rush and eventually engage in a small-scale symbolic repatriation to fend off international pressure," The Daily Star quoted Prof. Riaz as saying in an interview with UNB.

Bangladesh and Myanmar on Thursday signed a deal on repatriation after both the countries came to a consensus following a meeting between Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that the Rohingya repatriation process will start soon.

"The return shall commence within two months," Bangladesh foreign ministry said in a statement, adding, "A Joint Working Group will be established within three weeks of signing the 'arrangement'."

Prof. Riaz further elaborated that "the instrument may neither ensure repatriation of all Rohingya refugees, nor allow Bangladesh to involve the international community if the process gets stalled."

More than 620,000 Rohingya have crossed the border into Bangladesh since August, running from a military crackdown that Washington termed as ethnic cleansing.

A study prepared by the New York-based Amnesty International charged the Burmese government with promoting and practicing a form of "apartheid" against the Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine state.